The Coast Redwood, sequoia sempervirens, is the tallest tree in the world. The tallest known tree, Hyperion, is found in this far northern California region. It’s current height is over three hundred eighty feet tall, or one hundred fifteen meters and still growing. Redwood tree species once had world wide distribution, but are now limited in their respective ranges. The Giant Sequoia, the largest tree in the world by volume, is restricted to parts of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. The Dawn redwood, a deciduous species that loses their needles anually, is restricted to a small region of China. The Coast redwood has a narrow range on the pacific coast from just south of Monterey California to just north of the Oregon border. The frequent coastal fog that rolls in to engulf these forests bathes the trees in the moisture they so desperately require to survive and thrive in the warm, dry summer months.
It is precisely this fog that lends such fantastic mood and atmosphere to these magnificent forests. To walk through these magnificent lush forests of gigantic trees, especially when the rhododendrons are blooming in late spring, is an experience one will never forget. And when the fog is present it’s downright magical. And when the sun starts breaking through the fog, spotlighting the trees and flooding the forest with crepuscular rays, the experience is transcendent. To experience and photograph these conditions is an absolute privilege and will stay with you forever.
I came upon this particular scene as I was hiking along the Damnation Creek Trail in Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park. The combination of the delicate color palette, moody fog, and the depth it created caused me to stop and create this image. It was one of many I made in the few days I could spend in this magical place. Looking forward to my next trip.
What do you think are the TWO most impactful features that make your image a good photograph? Don’t be shy!
The soft, varied color palette and the depth of the image.
If you could make this photo again, what would be the ONE thing you would like to do better or different?
Not much, maybe try a slightly wider perspective.
Joseph Campisi shared this photograph in the FRAMES Facebook Group.
Photographer
Joseph Campisi, Seattle, WA
Equipment and settings
Sony A7 R3, Sony 24-240 mm at 44mm
F/16, 0.6 sec, ISO 100
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